Page:Dawn of the Day.pdf/249

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THIRD BOOK
213

he sums up his philosophy. A German, Schopenhauer, goes so far in the contrary direction as to assert: Admirari id est philosophari. But how, if the German, as occasion-ally happens, should be thrown into a state which would fit him for the performance of great things? When the hour of exception, the hour of disobedience, comes? I do not believe that Schopenhauer is right in asserting that the only preference of the Germans above other nations consists in having a greater number of atheists than are met anywhere else :—but this I know: whenever the German is in a proper condition for the performance of great actions, he always raises himself above morals! And why not? He has now something new to do, namely, to command, either himself or others ! But his German morality has not taught him how to command! The word command is not to be found in its code.